Capsule-filler.



A. R. HESSKB.

CAPSULE FILLER.

APPLIoATIoN FILED APB. 22. 1909.

946,940, ,Patented'Jan 18, 1910.

C/ 750551K l Jesske ATTORNEY AUGUST R. HESSKE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CAPSULE-FILLER.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 18, 1910.

Application led. April 22, 1909. Serial No. 491,452.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUST R. I-Inssnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Capsule-Fillers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in capsule fillers, and has for its object to provide an exceedingly simple and effective device of this description, by which capsules such as used for containing medical compounds may be readily filled, greatly facilitating the present method of filling such capsules for prescription work.

A further object of my invention is to provide for the filling of different numbers of these capsules as occasion may require.

"With these ends in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, I will describe its construction in detail, referring by letter to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in Which- Figure l is a side elevation of my improved capsule filler. Fig. 2, a central longitudinal section thereof. Fig. 3, a plan view. Fig. 4, an end elevation, and Fig. 5, a detail View of the spreader and rammer.

In carrying out my invention as here embodied, A represents the base plate of the apparatus having the posts B projecting upward therefrom, and C is the holder, which is fitted to slide upon these posts, and has formed therein the holes C adapted to receive the body of the capsules. These holes are preferably tapered so that their lower ends are somewhat smaller in diameter than their upper ends.

Pivoted to the holder are two yokes D, one at each end which serve as a gage for determining the position of the holder relative to the base plate during certain operations of the apparatus as will be hereinafter set forth.

In order that the holder may be firmly held in any adjustment upon the posts, I provide the set screws E which are threaded through the ends of the holder and adapted to jam against the posts.

F is a receptacle made in the form of a trough, the sides thereof being contracted toward the bottom and having a continuous slot formed in its boi tom adapted to fit over and register with the holes C. This receptacle has formed upon each end an extension F each of which is slotted to pass around the posts B and the screws G which will project upward from the holder and have threaded thereon the thumb nuts H by means of which the receptacle is clamped in position upon the holder, as will be readily understood.

rPhe pivoted yokes are limited in their swinging movement by the pins I projecting from the side of the holder so as to readily bring said yokes to a vertical position.

J represents the ejector pins which are secured in the base plate and project upward therefrom, these corresponding in number to the number of holes in the holder.

From the foregoing description the operation of my improve apparatus will be obviously as follows :-The holder is elevated upon the posts to near the top of the latter where it is secured by the set screws E when the empty capsules are placed one by one in the holes C and the caps removed therefrom which is readily accomplished by pressing the cap sidewise. After the body of the capsules are in position in the holes and after this has been done the capsules are pushed into the holes by the finger of the operator, so that their upper edges will be flush with the upper surface of the holder when the receptacle F is placed in position upon the holder and secured by the thumb nuts H. Now by lowering the holder upon the posts the ejector pins will bring the upper edges of the capsules in firm contact. with the bottom of the receptacle so that the material which is afterward placed in the receptacle will readily iow into the capsules. In order to assist in filling the capsules with the material contained in the receptacle, I prefer to use a spreader, as indicated at K, in Fig. 5, which when drawn across the Lipper surface of the holder will assist the contents of the receptacle in passing into the capsules, and for packing this material in the capsules I provide the rammer L which is here shown as made with the spreader and consisting of a number of teeth properly 'spaced to readily pass within the holes, and

by working this rammer up and down in the receptacle the contents thereof will be packed into the capsules. The neXt step is to remove the receptacle and slide the holder down upon the posts until the yokes D come in contact with the base plate, which will cause the ejector pins J to force the upper ends of the capsules above the upper surface of the holder, after which the caps may be readily replaced upon the capsules, when finally the yokes are swung outward and the holder forced downward which will cause the capsules to be ejected therefrom, as will be readily understood. It often happens in prescription work that a small number of capsules are called for, and to provide for filling a less number than the total number of holes in the holder I provide a sliding partition M which fits within the receptacle and is provided with an overhanging lug N through which is threaded the set screw O, its inner end adapted to bear upon one side of the receptacle and thus clamp the partition in any adjustment, and for convenience in determining the proper position of this partition for filling any given number of' capsules, I arrange graduat-ions P which are numbered, the indicating numbers herein being 6, l2, l5, 18 and 20, which refer to the number of capsules which are being filled by the setting of the partition at either of these graduat-ions. To fill capsules of diiierent diameters a number of holders corresponding in number to the standard sizes of capsules are provided and these holders being interchangeable one may be substituted for another without in any wise affecting the operation of the apparatus.

I do not wish to be limited to any particular number of the holes formed in the holder as these may be varied to suit the requirements of manufacturer or druggist.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful, is-

l. In a capsule filler, the combination of a base plate, posts projecting upward from said plate, a holder adapted to slide vertically upon said posts, said holder having a series of holes formed therethrough, means for securing said holder in different adjustments upon the posts, a receptacle having its bottom slotted to register with the holes in the holder, and means for securing the receptacle upon the holder, as specified.

2. In a capsule filler, the combination of a base plate, posts projecting upward from said plate, a holder adapted to slide vertically upon said posts, said holder having a series of holes formed therethrough, means for securing' said holder in different adjustments upon the posts, a receptacle having its bottom slotted to register with the holes in the holder, means for securing the receptacle upon the holder, and a sliding partition litted within the receptacle and adapted to be held in various adjustments, as specified.

3. In a capsule holder, the combination of a base plate, posts projecting upward from said plate, a holder havinga series of holes formed therethrough, said holder iitted upon the posts so as to be adjusted vertically, a series of ejector pins projecting upward from the base and corresponding in number with the holes in the holder, yoles pivoted to the holder and adapted to gage the position of the holder relative to the base plate, set screws threaded through the ends of the holder for securing the latter in different adjustments upon the posts, a receptacle, the sides of which are flared upward, its bottom being slotted to register with the holes in the holder, slotted extensions formed with the receptacle, screws projecting upward from the holder, and thumb nuts run upon said screws for clamping the receptacle in place, as specified.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

AUGUST It. I'IESSKE. lVitnesses O'rTo E. LEGGE, JOSEPH I). SPIEGEL. 

